Nevin Manimala

Eur Urol Focus. 2021 Oct 23:S2405-4569(21)00278-9. doi: 10.1016/j.euf.2021.10.006. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

CONTEXT: While the management of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) in men has been a topic of several systematic reviews and meta-analyses, no such evidence base exists for female BOO.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the benefits and harms of therapeutic interventions for the management of BOO in women.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020183839). A systematic literature search was performed and updated by a research librarian in May 2021. The study population consisted of adult female patients diagnosed with BOO, who underwent treatment.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Out of 6344 records, we identified 33 studies enrolling 1222 participants, of which only six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were found. One placebo-controlled crossover randomized trial assessed the role of baclofen in 60 female patients with dysfunctional voiding. The trial met its primary endpoint with a significantly greater decrease in the number of voids per day in the baclofen group (-5.53 vs -2.70; p = 0.001). The adverse events were mild and comparable in both groups (25% vs 20%). One placebo-controlled crossover randomized trial assessed the role of sildenafil in 20 women with Fowler’s syndrome. There were significant improvements from baseline in maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and postvoid residual (PVR), but with no statistically significant difference when compared with placebo. In a large RCT including 197 female patients with functional BOO, the alpha-blocker alfuzosin significantly improved IPSS, Qmax, and PVR compared with baseline, but the differences were not statistically significant compared with the placebo group. Several small single-arm prospective series reported improvement of BOO-related symptoms and voiding parameters with urethroplasty, sling revision, urethral dilation, vaginal pessary, and pelvic organ prolapse repair.

CONCLUSIONS: Evidence to support the use of conservative, pharmacological, and surgical treatments for BOO is scarce.

PATIENT SUMMARY: According to the present systematic review of the literature, evidence to support the use of conservative, pharmacological, and surgical treatments for either anatomical or functional bladder outlet obstruction is scarce.

PMID:34702649 | DOI:10.1016/j.euf.2021.10.006

Ultrasound Med Biol. 2021 Oct 23:S0301-5629(21)00407-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2021.09.011. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Soft tissue stiffness provides relevant information on plantar foot status. Therefore, appropriate monitoring of foot elasticity could be useful for diagnosis, treatment or health care of people with complex pathologies such as a diabetic foot. In this work, a feasibility study of reverberant shear wave elastography (RSWE) applied to plantar soft tissue was performed. Shear wave speed (SWS) measurements were estimated at the plantar soft tissue at the first metatarsal head, the third metatarsal head and the heel from both feet in five healthy volunteers. Experiments were repeated for a test-retest analysis with and without the use of gel pad using a mechanical excitation frequency range between 400 and 600 Hz. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the reliability of the SWS estimations. In addition, the results were compared against those obtained with a commercially available shear wave-based elastography technique, supersonic imaging (SSI). The results indicate a low coefficient of variation for test-retest experiments with gel pad (median: 5.59%) and without gel pad (median: 5.83%). Additionally, the values of the SWS measurements increase at higher frequencies (median values: 2.11 m/s at 400 Hz, 2.16 m/s at 450 Hz, 2.24 m/s at 500 Hz, 2.21 m/s at 550 Hz and 2.31 m/s at 600 Hz), consistent with previous reports at lower frequencies. The SWSs at the plantar soft tissue at the first metatarsal head, third metatarsal head and heel were found be significantly different (p < 0.05), with median values of 2.42, 2.16 and 2.03 m/s, respectively which indicates the ability of the method to differentiate between shear wave speeds at different anatomical locations. The comparison results indicate better elastographic signal-to-noise ratios with RSWE than SSI because of the artifacts present in the SWS generation. These preliminary results indicate that an RSWE approach can be used to estimate foot elasticity, which may have great potential to better evaluate changes in foot.

PMID:34702642 | DOI:10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2021.09.011

Burns. 2021 Sep 24:S0305-4179(21)00257-6. doi: 10.1016/j.burns.2021.09.010. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The assessment of thermal burn depth remains challenging. Over the last decades, several optical systems were developed to determine burn depth. So far, only laser doppler imaging (LDI) has been shown to be reliable while others such as infrared thermography or spectrophotometric intracutaneous analysis have been less accurate. The aim of our study is to evaluate hyperspectral imaging (HSI) as a new optical device.

METHODS: Patients suffering thermal trauma treated in a burn unit in Germany between November 2019 and September 2020 were included. Inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years, 2^nd or 3^rd degree thermal burns, written informed consent and presentation within 24 h after injury. Clinical assessment and hyperspectral imaging were performed 24, 48 and 72 h after the injury. Patients in whom secondary wound closure was complete within 21 days (group A) were compared to patients in whom secondary wound closure took more than 21 days or where skin grafting was indicated (group B). Demographic data and the primary parameters generated by HSI were documented. A Mann Whitney-U test was performed to compare the groups. A p-value below 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. The data generated using HSI were combined to create the HSI burn index (BI). Using a logistic regression and receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC) sensitivity and specificity of the BI were calculated. The trial was officially registered on DRKS (registration number: DRKS00022843).

RESULTS: Overall, 59 patients with burn wounds were eligible for inclusion. Ten patients were excluded because of a poor data quality. Group A comprised 36 patients with a mean age of 41.5 years and a mean burnt body surface area of 2.7%. In comparison, 13 patients were allocated to group B because of the need for a skin graft (n = 10) or protracted secondary wound closure lasting more than 21 days. The mean age of these patients was 46.8 years. They had a mean affected body surface area of 4.0%. 24, 48, and 72 h after trauma the BI was 1.0 ± 0.28, 1.2 ± 0.29 and 1.55 ± 0.27 in group A and 0.78 ± 0.14, 1.05 ± 0.23 and 1.23 ± 0.27 in group B. At every time point significant differences were demonstrated between the groups. At 24 h, ROC analysis demonstrated BI threshold of 0.95 (sensitivity 0.61/specificity 1.0), on the second day of 1.17 (sensitivity 0.51/specificity 0.81) and on the third day of 1.27 (sensitivity 0.92/specificity 0.71).

CONCLUSION: Changes in microcirculation within the first 72 h after thermal trauma were reflected by an increasing BI in both groups. After 72 h, the BI is able to predict the need for a skin graft with a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 71%.

PMID:34702635 | DOI:10.1016/j.burns.2021.09.010

Arch Pediatr. 2021 Oct 6:S0929-693X(21)00164-0. doi: 10.1016/j.arcped.2021.09.014. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic period, the use of emergency services with pediatric non-COVID patients has decreased considerably. We aimed to examine whether there was a change in the demographic data, triage profile, causes, management, and cost of pediatric emergency department (PED) visits of non-COVID patients during the pandemic period.

METHODS: This study was a retrospective, single-center, observational comparative study that was conducted at the PED. Patient records were examined during “the pandemic spring” and the same period of the previous year. Patient demographics, waiting time, and outcome of the PED visit were analyzed in the entire population of children admitted to the PED during the study period, whereas more precise data such as the reason for PED use, duration of symptoms, urgency levels according to the Emergency Severity Index (ESI), final diagnosis, management, and cost of patient care were analyzed in a sample of admitted patients. We used the chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, and Mann-Whitney U test for statistical analyses.

RESULTS: A total of 62,593 PED visits occurred. During the pandemic period, PED visits showed a decrease of 55.8% compared to the previous year. Patients included in the sampling study group were selected using a systematic random sampling method. The median waiting time during the pandemic period was significantly shorter than the previous year (median 14 min [IQR: 5-32] vs. median 5 min [IQR: 2-16]; p<0.001). The median duration of symptoms was 1 day (1-2) in both groups. Emergency Severity Index (ESI) levels I, II, and III showed a significant increase (27.7% vs. 37.3%) in triage scoring compared to levels IV and V (72.3% vs. 62.7%) during the pandemic period (p<0.001). The median cost per patient during the pandemic period was statistically higher compared to the previous year ($19.57 [19.57-40.50] vs. $25.34 [31.50-52.01]; p<0.001). Overall costs during the pandemic period had a 1.6-fold decline.

CONCLUSION: We highlighted the changes in an ordinary PED profile during an extraordinary period. A shift in ESI levels in a more emergent direction was observed. While the number of nonurgent patients, especially those with infections, decreased, the rates of surgical cases, acute neurological and heart diseases, home accidents, and poisoning increased relative to the pre-pandemic period.

PMID:34702623 | DOI:10.1016/j.arcped.2021.09.014

J Voice. 2021 Oct 24:S0892-1997(21)00291-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2021.08.012. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the efficacy of the NHS waterpipe as a superficial hydration treatment in voice production in healthy young women.

STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective, single-blind, within- and between-subject experimental design.

METHODS: Thirty six female university students (mean age 24.6 years, range 19-45 years) were recruited to the study. Participants were randomized to two experimental groups (E1 and E2) and a control group. E1 underwent hydration treatment with the NHS waterpipe filled with 0.9% saline that was immersed in a cup of heated water. E2 underwent a similar treatment but without heated immersion. The control group received no treatment. Acoustic Voice Quality Index (AVQI v03.01) and its subparameters, phonation threshold pressure, self-perceived phonatory effort and sensation of throat dryness was measured at three time points (before the intervention and immediately and 15 minutes after it).

RESULTS: The Tilt of the AVQI’s subparameters increased significantly in the E1 (P = 0.027) and E2 groups (P = 0.027) after the intervention. Furthermore, the E1 group had significantly lower harmonics-to-noise-ratio values at the third measurement point compared to the E2 group (P = 0.023). These findings may result from fluid transported to the vocal fold level. The sensations of throat dryness decreased in the E1 (P = 0.001) and E2 groups (P < 0.0005) after the intervention. Perceived phonatory effort decreased statistically significantly at the final measurement point in the E1 (P = 0.002) and E2 (P = 0.031) groups. No variables changed in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS: The waterpipe seems to be efficient in hydrating vocal folds on single use. It seems to be more efficient when employed with a hot water bath, albeit slightly impairing some acoustic values in the short term. Without the heated fluid, it still seems to decrease sensations of throat dryness and affect acoustic voice quality. The waterpipe does not seem to have an effect on phonation threshold pressure, and it seems to lower self-perceived effort just as efficiently whether the waterpipe is employed using a hot water bath or not. Further research is needed to prove the efficacy of long-term usage and usage with voice patients.

PMID:34702612 | DOI:10.1016/j.jvoice.2021.08.012

J Voice. 2021 Oct 23:S0892-1997(21)00309-X. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2021.09.009. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of auditory training with synthesized voices on intra- and inter-rater agreement of the auditory-perceptual voice analysis of roughness and breathiness.

METHODS: This was an experimental study consisting of four auditory training sessions. The sample consisted of twenty raters, students from a Speech-Language Pathology course, who had previous experience with auditory-perceptual assessment. The raters participated in the four training sessions with a seven-day break in between sessions. Each training consisted of three tasks: 1) Pre-training activity: Participants were asked to rate 20 natural voices, normal and dysphonic, from zero to three, according to the parameters of roughness and breathiness; 2) Training activity: Synthesized voice anchor stimuli were presented, and participants were asked to rate them from zero to three. Four stimuli were related to roughness and four to breathiness. Participants heard 20 voice stimuli and were instructed to pair the natural voice with the synthesized anchor stimulus that most resembled it; and 3) Post-training activity: the 20 voices from the pre-training activity were randomized and participants rated the same voices, without prior knowledge that these were repeated. Statistical analysis of data was performed using the AC₂ test, to assess the extent of agreement between raters, and the Friedman test to compare the training sessions. A 5% significance level was considered.

RESULTS: For the auditory-perceptual voice analysis of roughness, intra-rater agreement results ranged from 79% to 86% between the first and fourth auditory training session, with improvement in intra-rater agreement from the fourth session forward (P = 0.005). For the analysis of breathiness, results ranged from 88% to 92% between the first and fourth auditory training sessions, with improvement from the fourth session forward (P = 0.036). Inter-rater agreement results for the auditory-perceptual analysis of roughness ranged from 23% to 34%, and from 48% to 61% for breathiness, with no differences regarding training (P = 0.855).

CONCLUSION: The auditory-perceptual breathiness parameter had a higher AC₂ indicator compared to the roughness parameter, suggesting better agreement. The intra-rater agreement showed improvement starting from the fourth auditory training session for the assessment of roughness and breathiness. The auditory training program did not show a positive inter-rater agreement impact.

PMID:34702611 | DOI:10.1016/j.jvoice.2021.09.009

Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2021 Jan 19:S0266-4356(21)00015-2. doi: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2021.01.001. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to assess the impact, if any, of L-PRF application in an implant bed prior to implant placement, focusing on stability by means of implant stability quotient (ISQ) values. The literature was searched in a systematic way by means of the main databases and hand searching of the most relevant journals. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to determine the eligible studies included in this review. Only randomised controlled trials (RCT) and controlled clinical trials (CCT) were included. A total of four RCTs were included for data extraction. The risk of bias was deemed moderate to unclear. Meta-analysis was performed to assess the effect of L-PRF, on implant stability, immediately post-insertion in three studies, after one week from the implant placement in three studies and after four weeks for all the included studies. The fixed effects model has shown Hedges g statistic for the one week varying from 0.380 to 1.401 with a pooled figure of 0.764 (95% CI 0.443 to 1.085) and for four weeks varying between 0.74 and 1.1 with a combined effect of 0.888 (95% CI 0.598 to 1.177). The results for both intervals were in favour of the use of L-PRF while the statistical difference immediately post-insertion was not statistically significant. The present systematic review, though acknowledging its limitations, suggests that L-PRF has a positive effect on secondary implant stability and that needs to be correlated to the clinical practice to measure the actual clinical effect by means of reducing treatment times.

PMID:34702597 | DOI:10.1016/j.bjoms.2021.01.001

J Pediatr Nurs. 2021 Oct 23:S0882-5963(21)00300-6. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2021.10.003. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Creating a womb-like environment for the preterm infant is vital to reduce the stress caused by stimuli and facilitate optimal neurological-behavioral development.

PURPOSE: This randomized-controlled study aimed to determine the effect of simulative heartbeat nest use on vital signs, pain level, and comfort in preterms.

METHODS: The study population consisted of 52 (experiment: 25, control: 27) preterms hospitalized in a university hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit between May-November 2018. Before the application, preterms in both groups were evaluated with PIPP and Comfort scales. The experiment group was monitored in the nest with a heart beating device for 15 min. The control group was observed in the nest without the device for 15 min. Their heartbeats and oxygen saturation were recorded. After the application, preterms in both groups were re-evaluated with PIPP and Comfort scale.

RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of gestation week, age, birth weight and height, HB, SaO2, PIPP, and Comfort Scale total scores before and after the application (p > .05). However, the mean SaO2 increased significantly during the application (p < .003) in the experiment group; and that the PIPP total score decreased statistically significantly (p: 0.001) after the application. The comfort scale total score averages of the preterms in both groups decreased statistically significantly after the application (experiment:p < .01; control:p < .05).

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH: Preterms in both groups had similar indicators. The nests that create heartbeat provide positive outcomes, such as the standard nests’.

PMID:34702595 | DOI:10.1016/j.pedn.2021.10.003

Injury. 2021 Oct 17:S0020-1383(21)00881-0. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2021.10.013. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Routinely collected health data (RCHD) offers many opportunities for traumatic brain injury (TBI) research, in which injury severity is an important factor.

OBJECTIVE: The use of clinical injury severity indices in a context of RCHD is explored, as are alternative measures created for this specific purpose. To identify useful scales for full body injury severity and TBI severity this study focuses on their performance in predicting these currently used indices, while accounting for age and comorbidities.

DATA: This study utilized an extensive population-based RCHD dataset consisting of all patients with TBI admitted to any Belgian hospital in 2016.

METHODS: Full body injury severity is scored based on the (New) Injury Severity Score ((N)ISS) and the ICD-based Injury Severity Score (ICISS). For TBI specifically, the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) Head, Loss of Consciousness and the ICD-based Injury Severity Score for TBI injuries (ICISS) were used in the analysis. These scales were used to predict three outcome variables strongly related to injury severity: in-hospital death, admission to intensive care and length of hospital stay. For the prediction logistic regressions of the different injury severity scales and TBI severity indices were used, and error rates and the area under the receiver operating curve were evaluated visually.

RESULTS: In general, the ICISS had the best predictive performance (error rate between 0.06 and 0.23; AUC between 0.82 [0.81;0.83] and 0.86 [0.85;0.86]). A clearly increasing error rate can be noticed with advancing age and accumulating comorbidity.

CONCLUSION: Both for full body injury severity and TBI severity, the ICISS tends to outperform other scales. It is therefore the preferred scale for use in research on TBI in the context of RCHD. In their current form, the severity scales are not suitable for use in older populations.

PMID:34702594 | DOI:10.1016/j.injury.2021.10.013

J Prosthet Dent. 2021 Sep 21:S0022-3913(21)00490-X. doi: 10.1016/j.prosdent.2021.09.002. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Although psychological disorders have been established as one of the etiological factors for temporomandibular disorders, anxiety levels in individuals with masticatory muscle pain before and during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have not previously been compared.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this clinical study was to evaluate anxiety levels in patients with masticatory muscle pain at times before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighty patients (18 to 68 years) with masticatory muscle pain were included in the study. All participants had completed the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 questionnaire (GAD-7) before the first COVID-19 infection had been reported in Turkey. After the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, all participants were contacted by telephone to repeat the GAD-7 to evaluate changes in their psychology during the first lockdown. However, 18 of the 80 patients were unreachable. A statistical analysis was performed by using the Mann-Whitney U test. Proportion comparisons between sociodemographic characteristics and GAD-7 levels were performed by using the Fisher exact test (α=.05).

RESULTS: Forty-eight (60%) of the study population were women, and 32 (40%) were men, with a mean age ±standard deviation of 36.63 ±13.85 years. Both before and during the pandemic, GAD-7 scores were statistically similar as was each demographic parameter, including sex, educational status, and occupational status (P>.05). Also, no significant correlation was recorded between age and GAD-7 global scores obtained before and during the pandemic (r=-0.098 and r=-0.052, respectively, P>.05). However, during-pandemic GAD-7 scores were statistically higher than before-pandemic GAD-7 scores (P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Demographic parameters had no connection with anxiety levels in patients with masticatory muscle pain before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the COVID-19 pandemic anxiety levels in the participants were higher than the levels before the pandemic.

PMID:34702584 | DOI:10.1016/j.prosdent.2021.09.002